Rear light for automobiles and other vehicles



R. P. ALFRED ILES AND OTHER VEHICLES REAR LIGHT FOR AUTOMOB Filed Dec. 1, 1934 Patented Dec. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REAR LIGHT FOB AUTOMOBILES OTHER VEHICLES This invention relates to automobiles and particularly to the rear lights thereof, the object of this invention being to provide lights on the rear end of automobiles, buses, and trucks, .which will illuminate the road at the rear of the machine and also at the side of the machine for the purpose of permitting the driver of the car to guide the vehicle when backing. In very many situations it is almost imperatively necessary that some light be thrown rearward of the car in order that the driver may see to properly back. This is particularly necessary in narrow alleys, in backing into garages, in backing among parked machines, and in a large number of other situations.

A further object is to provide lamps of this character which preferably are formed as part of the machine itself, as for instance, being formed upon the rear ends of the rear fenders,

and which are so constructed as to combine the usual tail-light and illuminating lights capable of illuminating the ground immediately rearward of the vehicle and at the side of the rear of the vehicle.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view in welding or otherwise, to the rear end of a fender A. The rear end of the housing It! is formed to provide an upper compartment I l and a lower compartment l2. Within the upper compartment is the usual tail-light l3. This upper compartment has an opening H in its upper wall protected by a glass pane 15. The light from the lamp I3 is thrown upward through this sheet of glass I5 onto the license plate, these license plates being now carried on the rear fenders.

The bottom of the compartment ll slopes downward as at l6, and the rear end of this compartment H is formed with flanges I1 and is closed by a glass name [8 resting against the usual "gasket I9. This glass pane I8 is preferably red in color.

Within the compartment I2 is disposed a parabolic reflector 20, and disposed within this reflector is the lamp 2| having the usual base extending out thru the inner end of the reflector 25. A pane of clear glass 26 extends across the forward end of the reflector 24 and is held in place by any suitable means, as by the rim 21.

Suitable connections are, of course, made from the several lamps l3, 2| and 24 to a switch or 15 switches whereby these lamps may be controlled. Of course, the lamp l3 will be controlled entirely independently; of either of the lamps 2| and 25, but the lamps 2| and 25 on both sides of the machine may be controlled by a single switch which 20 when thrown on will energize these lamps and which, when thrown to an off position, will deenergize them. 4

Preferably, as before stated, the housing III will be formed as part of the fender A, thus adding to the ornamental characteristics of the car.

The side lights are particularly valuable in that in backing in crowded places or narrow situations, the side lights illuminate the cars or obstacles at the side of the vehicle while the rear lights illuminate obstacles at the rear of the vehicle. Thus the driver can see clearly just what impediments are present to backing and can steer properly. If only the rear lights are used then there is no clear illumination of impediments which may be on either side of the car or very close thereto. The lamp housings are designed so that light will be cast downward and laterally at a sumcient angle to properly illuminate the ground.

While I have illustrated the lamp housings as being formed separately and as being attachableto the fenders, it is to be understood that the fenders might be made initially with these lamp housings integral therewith by dieing the fenders 45 out to provide the lamp housings.

While I have illustrated certain details of construction and arrangement of parts, I do not wish to be limited thereto, as obivously many and a connecting top edge wall and having an open end, said top edge wall having a window opening transversely thereof, a partition extending downwardly from said top edge wall and forwardly to the transverse center of said open end, said partition connecting the casing-side walls,

a reflector disposed in the casing beneath said partition and directed rearwardly through said open end, a frame having a pair of windows and disposed over and closing the open end of said casing, an illuminating element within the area between the top wall and the forwardly extending lower part of the partition, an illuminating element within said reflector, said casing having a window opening in a side wall, a light reflector within the casing and covering said last window opening, and an illuminating element in said last reflector which is electrically connected with the illuminating element in the first reflector whereby the elements of the two reflectors will be simultaneously lighted.

- RUTH P. ALFRED. 

